Fresh from Georgia as a 2008 first-round pick, Gordon Beckham used the Arizona Fall League as a springboard to jump to the big leagues in his first full season as a pro. Jordan Danks also joined the White Sox in the 2008 draft, and is hoping to duplicate Beckham's path to U.S. Cellular Field.

Double-A Erie manager Tom Brookens has seen Casper Wells move up the ladder through the Tigers organization. But even Brookens is surprised by the prospect Wells has become since managing him in short-season Oneonta in 2006.

The 2006 draft class has already proved fruitful for the Red Sox. In 2008, second-rounder Justin Masterson emerged as a key setup man at the major league level. In 2009, first-round pick Daniel Bard followed that path in emerging as a late-innings reliever. Now, fifth-rounder Dustin Richardson hopes to become the next in line.

Righthander Bryan Augenstein was about as dominant as a starting pitcher can be during his two stops at Double-A Mobile last season, the first of which earned him his initial trip to the majors in mid-May as a rotation fill-in. Augenstein believes the lessons he learned can only help, and his work in the Arizona Fall League stated his case nicely.

Lee Hyde is an Atlanta kind of guy. After growing up just south of the city, in Fayetteville, Ga., Hyde spent three years at Georgia Tech before getting drafted by the Braves in the fourth round in 2006. Despite encountering a road block in the form of Tommy John surgery midway through his first four seasons in the organization, the lefthanded reliever could be a candidate for the big league bullpen in 2010.

Should the Rays have drafted Buster Posey over Tim Beckham? Why did Mets outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis rank ahead of Cubs third baseman Josh Vitters on the FSL Top 20, but not get any love on the Mets Top 10? Why were Garrett Jones and Casey McGehee so lightly regarded coming into 2009, and are they for real after surprising rookie seasons?

No one in the Milwaukee Brewers' front office disputes the fact that there is a void of pitching prospects at the top levels of the farm system. The compelling question is: How exactly did that happen?

Virginia's Kevin McMullan is the 2009 American Baseball Coaches Association/Baseball America Assistant Coach of the Year, not only because he's a gifted talent evaluator and an accomplished hitting coach, but also because he knows how to bring out the best in his players.